Do You Feel Valued?

Do you feel valued at your current job?  Do you feel like you are just spinning your wheels and not going anywhere?  Well if you feel this way, join the club, not many employees feel they have a good future with their current organization. Why do they feel this way?  Some have doubts about the future of the organization.  They fear the company could go out of business, merge with another, or be acquired.  Most often, they feel their performance is not valued.  Recent research shows that many employees stay with their organizations anyway and continue to live in fear and unhappiness. Here’s why they stay:

1- They are scared at the prospect of looking for another job.

2- Their self-confidence has been shattered.

3- They assume there aren’t any opportunities elsewhere.

4- They fear losing their health benefits.

5- They don’t see themselves working anywhere else.

6- They don’t want to leave their friends.

5- They are scared of change.

The result is that they feel stuck, trapped, and paralyzed.

HOW TO MAKE A POSITIVE MOVE:

1- Be proactive; start deciding ways to change your current situation.

2- Realize a change of venue can have a positive effect on your life.

3- Clarify your objectives; have defined goals.

4- Do your research; start asking questions of everyone you know.

5- Network; look up past co-workers, friends and relatives. All of them are good potential resources to help you figure out where there might be opportunities.

Life is short. There is no need for you to be unhappy in your current job. Realizing you may be working in a situation that is no longer right for you is the first start.   So, if you feel stuck, just make up your mind today that you are going to change your situation.  You may need some help, and that’s where I come into play.  Whether you are currently out of work or a working professional looking to make a career move, feel free to contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com. I can help you figure out what you should do next and how you should get there. I can also provide you with both structure and motivation to help you move on with your new life and your new career.

 

 

 

 

 

Expect the Unexpected!

Has there ever been a time in your life where you had no sense of direction?  Know that sometimes life can take many unexpected twists and turns.  We don’t always know where we will end up because some days are better than others.  Keeping a positive attitude and believing in yourself will definitely help you pick up the pieces and send you on your way.  Currently in today’s job market, many people are out of work, and have just given up looking for employment.  Still others are looking to make a change in their current careers, whatever the case may be, there is definitely hope for you.

Here are a few tips to help you move things along the way:

1-  Know that you are not alone; no one has everything figured out.

2- Take a break; give yourself time to think things through.

3- Look at your past accomplishments; reflect on what you are most proud of.

4- Let go of your expectations; and accept things as they come.

5- Surround yourself with positive people; use them as sounding boards.

6- Stop comparing yourself to others; everyone have struggles to overcome.

 

While there are many people who are not living up to their full potential, that doesn’t include YOU!  Every person at some point in their lives has experienced moments of doubt and feelings of insecurities. But it’s up to you to get up, dust yourself off and start over.  Know that if you were able to accomplish some things in your past, you can accomplish much more in your future.  Learn to expect the unexpected.  If you are expecting everything in your life to go smoothly then you are in for a rude awakening.  No one has all the answers, but it starts with you taking responsibility and creating a plan of action that works for you.

Never forget, you have more strength than you believe, there is more fight in you than you ever knew you had, and far more potential than you could have ever called forth or even dream of being possible. Whether you are currently out of work or a working professional looking to make a career move, feel free to contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com. I can help you on your journey to a new career and help you map out the plan that will take you there.  Sometimes its not always about the advice you seek, but the reassurance that you are on the RIGHT track.

 

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT!

So, you’ve been applying for positions and finally land an interview.  This is where you are advised to proceed with caution.  Because now is the time to sell yourself, so you need to know what to say, and how to say it.  Public speaking can be a nightmare for many of us, but an interview is different altogether.  It is usually done in a one-on-one, private setting.  The more you can get to the point of the questions asked, the more forceful you will come across during the interview.  The bottom line is not to clutter your answers with unnecessary information, or the interviewer may you tune out.  Improvement starts with making yourself aware.  Make eye contact when you talk to the interviewer, this will help you appear more relaxed and confident.  Appreciate the person you are speaking to, because they took time out to talk with you.  Know that overall, it’s not about you but whether you are a good fit for the company.

Here are a five tips to help you along the way:

1-  Practice speaking out loud; the more you do it, the easier it gets.

2-  Think before you speak; organize your thoughts.

3-  Project your voice so the interviewer can comfortably hear you.

4-  Speak with confidence.

5-  Believe in yourself and in what you are saying.

Improving your verbal communication skills requires constant awareness, intentional effort, and the desire to improve.  How you communicate with others verbally plays a defining role in both your personal and professional life.  Learning to speak with authority and confidence will make you more successful in the workplace.  Also, realize that your body language can have an effect on how your verbal communication is interpreted.  Your nonverbal actions can detract from the effectiveness of your words.  Stay in control of your body language to ensure your words are assessed positively and correctly.  Realize that your actions or responses during an interview can either make you or break you.

Whether you are currently out of work or a working professional looking to make a career move, feel free to contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com.  I can help you on your journey to a new career and help you map out the plan that will take you there.

The Pursuit of Happiness!

If you are finding it harder to juggle the demands of your job and the rest of your life, you’re not alone.  Many people are working extra hours or are on call when they are not physically at work.  Focus your time and attention on the things you can control.  Setting very clear boundaries between your professional and personal life is one of the best things you can do for yourself.  It allows you to have personal satisfaction, while maintaining professional fulfillment.

Here are eight tips to try for a healthy work life balance:

1-  Acknowledge priorities; make a list.

2-  Schedule downtime; make it a point to schedule time for your family and friends.

3-  Don’t waste time; stop doing things that don’t add value to your life.

4-  Avoid over-commiting; learn when and how to say “NO!”

5-  Use a work-flow system; track all tasks.

6-  Is it cost effective; is it really worth your time?

7-  Get moving; plan time for exercising.

8-  Communicate; let your plans be known.

Even the best of jobs can cause stress, but the benefits of creating a healthy work life balance will be invaluable.  As a result, you will become more confident and creative in your decision-making.  You will no longer feel the need or urge to take work home or worry about work related issues while you are home.  Understand that we are all humans, we make mistakes and we keep striving to make it all work.  We won’t always strike the right work life balance, but we must continuously adapt to make it work for us.  Sometimes we must move boundaries, change habits or reduce our workloads, but recognize that achieving the pursuit of happiness involves planning, sacrifice, commitment and a clear understanding of yourself.

There are no short cuts that will lead to lasting success, that only comes after a lifetime of dedication and consistent hard work. Prioritizing and planning will empower you to make the right choices and will remove the state of uncertainty.  So wherever you might be in life, contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com.  I can help you on the right road to a healthier work life balance and help you implement a career plan that works best for you.

Take Responsibility

Career planning is not something that should be done only once and then forgotten as we move forward in our careers or daily lives.  Rather, it should be done on a regular basis.  The average person will change jobs many times in their lifetime, and it’s never too late to start your planning.  It can provide you with goals to achieve in your current position or with plans for beginning a transition to a new one.  Either way, career planning should be a rewarding and positive experience and we all need to take responsibility for our lives.

Here are a few tips to start you on your way:

1- Make it an annual event, set goals.  You will feel better about your career choice and direction.

2- Map out your direction.  Try not to dwell on your past, see what you can do differently in the future.

3-  Make notes of your past accomplishments.  This will help you create a resume when looking for you next job.

4- Review career and job trends.  It is important to see where job growth is expected.

5- Explore new education and training opportunities.  Take a chance to grow and learn new things.

Career planning can help you be better equipped for the uncertainty that lies ahead in your job search.  Spend time figuring out who you are and what you want out of life.  Learn to look beyond your comfort zone and see other possibilities.  Set short-term ( in the coming year) and long-term (beyond a year)  career goals. Review and adjust these goals as your plan progresses or changes.  Develop new goals once you accomplish your previous goals.

 

So You Didn’t Make The Cut!

Nobody likes rejection, especially when it comes to a job interview. All of us have experienced it at some point in our lives. The best thing you can do after getting turned down is to stay positive and not get discouraged. Most people are hesitant to speak about job rejection because it means admitting failure. Instead, we need to treat each rejection as a lesson learned, realize that it is over and move on to greener pastures. The job market can be very tough and competitive at times, but don’t give up. Job rejection is to be expected and is very much a part of the job search process. Here are some ways on dealing with being rejected:

1. Don’t take it personally; sometimes even a great candidate doesn’t make the cut.

2. After each interview ask the interviewer for feedback. Take a step back, re-group and think of the things that you could have done better.

3. Get busy occupying your time with positive things that will help you forget what happened. Focus on your goals and research companies and positions that meet your needs and skills.

4. Talk about it. Your friends and family can provide valuable insight to guide you in the right direction. The more you open up, the more likely you will have to get interview tips or even job leads.

In your future interviews send a thank-you note to the interviewer as soon as possible. Thank him or her for the interview, and say that you look forward to hearing about the position. By following up, this shows that you are really interested in the job. Dealing with job rejection can be tough, but it is something everyone encounters at some point or another. Sometimes not getting a job can be a blessing in disguise, you can learn what you seek in an employer, what you want in a job, better prepare for the next interview and help you move forward in your job search.

Whether you are currently out of work or a working professional looking to be happier and more successful at work, feel free to contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com. I can help with your interviews and implement a career plan that works best for you.

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES!

Are you the type of person who creates their own opportunities or do you wait for it to knock on your door? Who says you have to wait for an opportunity to come, or for someone to offer one to you? If there’s something you want, make your own opportunity. Don’t wait for opportunities to find you, get up, go out and make things happen for yourself. Opportunities are out there surrounding you at every twist and turn. You just have to open your eyes, use your imagination, get a little creative.

In this day and age, you need to think outside the box. Learn to stop and smell the roses, look around you, see what is happening in the world, see what people are up to, see what they are talking about, and see what they are passionate about. But be realistic, you may not be the only one who has seen that opportunity, but you have to be willing to take a chance, put your own spin on it and make it your own. You need to look past the present and into the future; you need to be able to see not only what is in front of you, but what is around the next corner too. You need to always be on the lookout for opportunity, it lurks in the most unbelievable places.
Creating opportunities mean you have to have the right mindset, and be willing to take charge of your life. You have to be willing to fail and learn from your mistakes. You need to be eager, perceptive, and remember to look beneath the surface; very few things in life are exactly as they seem. It’s quite normal to hear a lot of no’s in life before getting a yes, but the YES will come if you keep trying. Success rarely comes immediately. You need to be persistent in order to keep going, even when things are difficult, don’t settle. Remember, don’t dwell on the negatives, go out and create your own opportunity.

Whether you are a freelancer or employed professional looking to be happier and more successful at work, feel free to contact me at http://www.msselfconfident.com. I can help you with your choices and implement a plan that works for you.

Life’s three C’s

Someone once said, “You must make the Choice to take a Chance if you want anything to Change.”  I totally agree because life as we know it is a very tough and challenging journey.  We are all born to equally experience problems, struggles and hardships that we have to conquer along our way.  These challenges differ and can be easily overcome if we are well prepared with adequate knowledge, skills, confidence, and faith.  The way in which you live your life, is your choice, right or wrong, only you can decide what is best for you.  Just remember, we all make choices in life, and through our mistakes, we gain wisdom.  Then there is the old saying “everybody deserves another chance.”  Here, the only thing that matters is we should all be given an opportunity to correct our mistakes.  Whether opportunities come your way, or you go out and create them, as long as there is life, there are chances.  The decisions we make, give us hope and everyday brings a fresh chance for unlimited possibilities.

Last but not least, there is change.  Life is constantly changing and none of us like change, because it pushes us out of our comfort zone.  Most of us are afraid to let go of the things that makes us feel safe and secure.  Making the decision to change the direction of your life is the first step to living.  It’s never too late to change, and we all have room for improvement.  So embrace change and take your life in directions you never imagined.  These three C’s provide us with continuous life experiences.  Most people won’t do anything different yet they expect a new result.  We can all live, learn, grow, and become better citizens by making choices, taking chances and being willing to change.  Life and its many challenges should be looked upon in a positive way and living the three C’s can help you decide to live your life to the fullest.

Wherever you are in life, if you need help figuring out the direction in your career journey, feel free to contact me at www.msselfconfident.com.

Hello World!

Hello World! What an appropriate welcome. I am so excited to become a member of the blogging community and hopefully share some useful information for all those who come to seek it. My goal with this blog is to answer questions and share tips about getting hired, staying hired, and moving on after to being fired. The purpose of this blog is to make sure you are empowered to take the next steps to get what you have earned and deserve. However, one cannot do that without a plan and the basic business fundamentals (also known in my world as the rules of engagement).

Through this blog I aim to address topics ranging from basic resume writing to more in-depth career counseling. So while some topics will be super basic, I believe practice makes perfect and there is nothing wrong with a little review every once in a while. Although YOU may already know all of this information, others do not, and my goal is to help those who need it most. Most of my experience comes from a corporate perspective, however, as a member of Gen Y I’m sure some topics will have a slightly different twist. I look forward to serving you as we take this journey together to educate and empower each other to reach our greatest potential.

-Loveyalaterbye,
Ms. Self-Confident

(Photo credit: Maurilio Amorim)